Machine for shelling nuts.



W. A. J. ROAGH. MACHINE FOR SHELLING NUTS."

APPLIoATIoN FILED SEPT. 20,'1909.

Patented Apr.25,1911.

W. A. J. .ROACEL MAUHINE FOB SHELLING NUTS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2o, 1909.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. A. J.' ROACH. MACHINE AFOI?. SHELLING NUTS.

.I.. 1 9 1 Kd., 2 R p A d n e. M D.. 9. 0 9 1 m. mh P E s D E L I F N 0 I T A o. I L P P .A

I 4. 9 l. O 9

l; Mia

W. A, J. ROAGH. MACHINE FOB SHELLING NUTS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1909.

Patented 11111.25, 1911.

` 9 smmss11nm 4.

w.'A. J. RoAcH. s lMACHINE FORSHELLING NUTS'.

.APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2.0, 1909, Apr 25 a l SHEETS-SHEET A5.

u w. A. I. noAcH. IUIINB FOB SHELLING NUTS.

990,294. unicum; rxLsn un. zo, 1190s. Patented A111225, 1911' a unire-snm e..

J4 sa 777% 1 41'.

w. A. J. RoAcH. KAGHINE FOB SHELLING NUTS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1909.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911 9 emma-sum 1. v y J l-Ill nya W. A. J. IELOAGH.` IAUHIIIE FOB BHELLING NUTS. nnlouxol rmsn un. ho, loos.

Patented Apr, 25, 1911.

a unnfrHn'nn-r a.

W. AL'J; ROME. y MACHINE FOR SHELLING NUTS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22C, 1909.

'Patented Apr.25,f1911 9 SREETSwSHI-JET 9.

. To all twho-:ri 'it may concern:

` advantageous for the removal o f the kernel',- and will cut each ,nut in the .same relative WALTER ALBERT JOSEPH ROACE'Q Ysail amonio. rms.

' 'MACHINE ron sriiiLLiNG Nurs.

-Appiiatin mea sepa Bc it known that. I, WALTER ALBERT Josiirii Ronan, a citizen of. thev United States, vresidingl at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and Stateof Texas, vhave rinvented certa-in new and useful Improvements in Machines for vShelling Nuts,'of which the following is a specification.

' 'lhis invention relates to nut shelling inachines, and pertains more particularly t0 a mechanism for hulling pecan nuts', and re- `tainingithe kernels in their whole condi-- -tion consisting;in the attainment of they above, iii the novel construction and assemblage of parts and' devices hereinafter setY forth and described.

The' main object of the =lnventioii isto produce a machine adapted-'to shell pecan nuts in a simple, rapid and etiicient manner,- while preserving the integri-ty ofy the'ker-` nels or meat of 'the'nut It isgwell known,

that shelled pecan nuts as a. commercial' product are graded, and each grade is given a particular value. The value ot the, grade de nds u on the condition of the meat that is, bro {en meats are oli-considerable less value than those iii perfectcondition.

It is, `therefore, purpose of ,the present invention topiovide a machine which,'whil e Working rapidly to shell pecan nuts in large quantities, will'r also preserve Athe integrity `and perfection .of the-kernels: Y

It is also a'n object to provide a mechanism which vwill feed the iiutsl from a bulk.

or quantity contained in a `hopper inregulated and positioned order. That is, it is my desire to produce a mechanism, whichk will feed the nuts one by one at regular,

'- predetermined intervals, in a yposition always the same, whereby Ythe cutting and shelln -mechanism may act on theV ends 'est and mos't efficient manner. Also, itis my pu ose to provide a mechanism of 4the mostl e cient character which will cut the shells from the ends at the points most places, nd to rovidemea'ns to remove the shells after sai cutting action has been accomplished. n l vi In t-l'ie'attaiiamr nt of the last'named ob- 'ect that is` the removal of the shells. it

is also an object to provide a shell removing mechanism which will not onl remove the outer shell from-the kernel,

l simultaneously remove the' 'thin partition Fig.

utI will also l Specification otLetter-s lPateiit. y Apr, 'ber 201909. seriaiivo. 518,615... v L

piece' from between the two` halves-15' ofthe kernels 'or meats. It will be knownb-y those familiar-with the art, with the flm- -provements heretofore constructed the object has been almostentirely to provide mechanisms which will secure the removal of thev kernels in halves only. lThis old construct-ion, while suited to a great many purposes it is my intention tdimprove u on," -by securing the kernels in n n'entirely' w ole condition, thereby securingilthe kernels for many purposes heretofore f] used. by reason of the iinpracticability of.

obtaining the whole" kernels, vand thus increasing the Value .of peca-n kernels and the output ofthe hivhe'st gradeorwhole kernels.

In tlie'assembzlage and construction of the vabove mentioned mechanisms, it is my furtherpurpofseto provide a series ofjmechanismsnwhose action throughout -is completely aiid'successivel per-formed inthe accomplshment. .oft e obects-above set/forth, fromthe-fee ling of te nuts,l from the bulk to -the-inal` ste lot delivering the whole With these and other objects in View, as will hereinafter ap ear,'-in now be fully set fortli," Vwith "reference to the' accompanying drawings, iwhich. formaV part of the specifica'- tion, and'in Whiclizi `invention will descri d and claimed,

Figure `1,is a plan view o f my improved f machine showing its various working parts iii assembled order. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine, with' certainparts of the hopper mechanismbroken away. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the lineB- of Fig. 1.v Fig. 4 isr a sectional vie,\v taken through the inacliiiie'on the linaje-4 of head constituting partrof the nut cutting mechanism. v Fig. 6 `is a sectional elevation 1.` Fig..5 isa view showing a1`r'evo1uble taken axially; through Fig. 5,-showin the internal construction of x sa1d revoluble cad.

Fig. 7 is a detailed sec'tialview Ataken, in the line .7 -7 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a'detailed view lo'oking horizontally'inthe direction of the viii-rows. inl Fig. 7 below -tlie hopper. Fig.' 9.-"is a detailedview similar to Fig. 8

lookin atrghtf-ngles to the re shown in Fig', 7. ,Fi l 10' is a detaile plan view Ishowing a shi ting mechanism used in connectionwith the separator. 'Fig. 11 is a view of a. nut gripping mechanism. Fi 12' is a side'l elevation of the se arator. 'g,

'13 is a longitudinal section'a view of. one

Tg n v --g ,7990,294

' of theiiiut .crushing members. Figs. 14 and 15.are detailed views of crushing members shown `in-Fi'g. 13. Fig. 16 is "a fragmentary view of the nut-gripping an'dfeeding mechamsm'.l Eigs.' 17 ,18,19 and 20 are fragmentary detailed vie'ws -of the cutting and crushi' ing mechanism.4 Fig. 21 sfa detail view in cross section'of a. ortioxi 'f the gripping` 'end-of a plunger ro Fig. 22 is an enlarged d'eti'iilvie'wof the plunger rod actuating mechanism.l Fig. V23 is an' enlarged 'detail p'la'nview, partly in' section of the plunger rodloperatiiigmechanism',- and Fig. 24 is aiie r'ged elevation of. the ysame mechan'i'smldisclosed in Figs. 22 and 23. f, Beferringmore'particularly to said drawings, in whichflike numerals of reference indicate like'- arts throughout," 1 indicates a machine hase or'supporting structure of generallyelon ated form, and having unintermediate o set orp'rojec'tioxif2.v Mounted in suitable'positio'n, and `secured 'as by bolts and 5 rial as casty meta1,"and -a` cylindrical upright viiuts to the' base 1 is a'vertical standard 3., .which has secured thereto' in` aposition to forni an overhang, `a hopper 4. Said hopper comprises a bottom plate 5 of suitable matecasingj'lsecuredfat its lowerfedge to 'said bottom late 15. Within. the yto 4ofthe hopper"'4, -astenedrby suitable-'bo ts 'or screws to 'the' inner"'surface 'fof the cylindrical'casl .an annulus aving'inwar ly projecting arms whichjjoi'ikaf'central 'circular member 8 which forms'a inou'th" or securing member for' a feed"-'spoutf (notshown'in rint) throu h I. which nutsmayb'e'fed tosai hopper/i. 't

'i hopper ,is

anv 'intermediate l'point on lthe inside "of said "secured a' second' supporting 'or bracingmember- 9 which comprises substantiallya'lon 'tudinally vdisposed rod having neargone en and disposed :is-hereinafterl set 'frthgaa ertured enlargement'lO. Mounted lngitu inally onthey base 1 and having suitable bearings` 11 secured to said base, is

r a'ir'iain, driving shaft' 12, having the 'belt 'pulleys 13, and'iy 'wheel 14.` Sai shaft is provided, as hereinafter set forth with thenceessary mechanism', and connectionsto -the various' part'uof the machine to drive the j latter". Thej hopper-1, as aforesaid,' formsjan overhang.fromsaidstandard, and is'A so'positio'ned las '.tov 'project below" an upright. o'r standard 15,v which is mounted upon the offset '2 and has a horizontally-projected arm 16. Said arm 16 carries an' adjustable bracket 17, said 'pb'r'acket'17 forinin af'bearing for' a'vrod'or plunger 18; Sai rod' or ungei" ljextends downwardly into the l hopper 4 througha ltube 7 supported in' the spiderv'and in saidenlarge'mei'itjlO formed Sin' the brace 'rodl or bar-'9, the latter' forming a lowerjsupport for said tube 7^, and said plunger is ,adaptedto be verticallv reciprocated in suitable bearings in said tube bv means-ofsuit ard 19 'm'oii'n't'ed"up'o'iithe base lisub'stantially ppposite `said upright?y 15. -Acrankf shaft20 ]ourx'i'ale'd 'inthe upen'end of'aaidstandardl 19 carries'atfone en' -af'slotted crank Imeiiibei slide block 22 to a' rocklever 23. Said rock` pivote'd intermediate 'its en s to" s aidfsta'n'dard, and :carries at its j-lowerj endarevoluble wiper' oi' roller 245l which.l is engaged 'ybyb a.'

able mechanism'operat'edfrom' -1 said main'shaft-12.' Sadrodlreciprocatingmechanism yis 'carried upon '-a'fv'e'rti'calata'ind-` disk "bein'gf mounted ion ,the `main`vdrivel shaft 12. Adjustablymounted' on'A said crankshaftii'ientcf. hel-rock" lever V23 lis converte fintoa vertically .rcciprocatory' movement' 'of said plunger- 18,-as followszThefmovement of.

arm 26 is rendered ad] threaded 'rody 27 which is' tli'rea'dodF-into f a block-f pivoted tin the-lock 28 formed on said arm' 26, and-in'a--sl'de -blo'ckv29; secured 15in;

means; the f-vangularf' relation'i'between# s'aid arm .'26 'and said crank' member-'1221i may-be varied; fand" coiisequentlythefareualmoveustable byl means" (ifa x throu h connection fwitlithe rock-liever e- L jects 'intd a; vsleeve-'31, in'which'Jitiisrl slidable.

Said 'sleeve lhas'its opposite endil'iifl'i'rcated thereof, and t e bifurcations 32 arepi-v'otally.

mitted ai' direct 'vertical recipi'cation' in its' bearings, byreason f the 'sliding-connection shapedl aperturesiiear its"j"pe'i1phery said hoprper,1 and* has V`'.secured' tof`I itsi-.p'rojected end a?"ratchet wheel-F36.'` Pivotallymolmted 'upon the lower 'side-"0f a' proj ectionv 37 off thebottom` platey of' 'the' h'o'ppei'-ft'A is 'a rock lever 38.' Said'rockleverf38"siprovidedat its'ou'terv end' 'with a' wiper'- orroller 39""whi'ch'f is engaged and` operated ',by the I 4cam surfacesv l of ,a`=-'cam 401A mounted i upon the main' driveshaft'12. Th'eov 'pinda-'farm-` of vsaid rock-,lever 38"'eigtendsbelowvf'the hop er` bottom, and` is provided-" withY-a hoo c-shaped pawl L11which is `pi'rvotally se-Y .moves said revoluble disk 34, and .,a,l` lspring 42 extendedbetween a lug 43 formedon 4the 'rockflever pawl=41 .acts-to .maintain s'aidv pawl' normal lengagement with ne'of theteet-h of saidv ratchet 36. Thus,y by reason fftlie` reciproeatory movement imparted to said rock lever '38 disk 34 is given a-.stepby step movement,

and .eng-.1 movement is suthcient to move one of thee'gg-shaped apertures in said disk'34 over the. aperture 35. A lso mounted below the bottom of said hopper upon a `stud'is a pivotedl pawl 46, whose rotary movement is limited by means of a. bolt or screw, screw threaded into the arm 47 and locked. by nut.

50, coming in eontact with the projeeti n 4l) formed on said `hopper bottom. 'lhe arenal .movement of the pawl 46V is regulated by adjusting the holt orscrew 48 in the arm the nut-shaped'apertu'res direetiyl above the opening` 35 in tie hopper bottoni'. .'Said pa wl t6 is connected to thjoperating mecha-4 wcarried h v the end of said'ro( msm by means offa rod 5l, which is pivo`tf all)y connected at one end to 'a boss 'formed ou the end of therock'lever 38, and 1s .shdl ably extended through a block4 52'on said pawl 46. A spring 53 mounted `upon the extended Vend' of said rod 51 andbearingv the spring o3 is 'f1-eed of tension andthe between said block Y collar-'55 eommg in emltaetwit-l1 Said/.block forward movement part of the pawl. 46 whiehcomes 'lncontaet 52 pivoted in the pawl 46` returns thepawl t6 to a position whiehpermits of the next ofthe ratchet 36. That lwith the ratchet 36 travels Vfaster and. farther than the pawlf-tl b v reason ofthe sition' 'of the' pivotal bloek- 52,'rthiis permit: ting of the initial movement of the ratchet 36T The pawl 41 reaehes Astuds 56 and 5T are the bell erank levers 58 and 59. Bell crank lever 5S has one of its arms extended substantially diametrically vaeross the bottom of the hopper and has a redueed )ort-ion provided with a. stud 60, said stud 38.andl a 'lug'45 formed on theA ln as coil ',sj'iring by the cam 40,'the' 'revoluble 'lhe 'opposite end of said pawlf46 is' adaptedfto engage the teeth of the ratchet' 256 to stop the revoluble disk 34 with oneI of movement of the earn' 38- /As aforesaid, the rod `or plunger JSis ,mounted :for vertical Y reei proeat ion, -anjd the the end of itsfor. i i ward movement. a littleprevious to theloek`V nivoluhle disk4 a'ibifirrcalted slottedjmeniber '61 formed on\ .the/ oppositel'y. projecting arm of bell craiik lleve1'". 59, whereby as the levers are ro'ked,^ ainofvellrient ofA one will imparta corresponding'fandequal movement. t-o the otlierl.."Suitable `i`u eans 'are provided, such 4,5521"interposed between the arm lot. bel.l.( e'ra`nk'lever 59 and a pointon the.-v easing.rfhopper. bottom, tomaintain lthe 'bell crank levers inthe normally straight v"positionshown yj1' 1 lg`.ig. 'l'. (')neside of Athe plate -o1j IniIi g the hopper bottom is extended intofav substantial vrectangular pro` jeet'ion 62, whose lower sidel is provided with a'doveftail groove 63, in whieh are mounted for opposing sliding movement. a pair of guides (Stand 65, (Figs. Sl and 16) whieh forma spout oiteed eli-nte.l SaidV guides each com .frise a substantiall triangularfsha )ed p ate. having their opposing straightl si; esprovided with eoneaved.. or .rounded grooies. Said grooves may be formed in the elements 66 and 67 formed on or secured to said plates, or said4 grooves may be" formed .direetly in the edgesof said plates. Theopposite-free ends ol said bell.

,erauk'levers 58 and5t) are'eaeh pivotally lconnu-ted to one` of saidA guides 64 and 65.V ,'l`he-'le\"e1"5l)*is `eonneewdto guide member 64 by means of-the slot'and pin eonneetzion 'formed by a, hifureated member-51)" formed (in-the end of the bell crank lio/- 55), anda studor projection provided on the. member 6i'. VThe bell erank lever 5h' is eonneet'ed to the. guide member 65 by means ot' a stud vformed onor provided'for .the arm of lever 58. said projection engaging a Aslide bloek 68 whieh'is 'slidable in atl'ansverse groove 60 formed in theupper edge ot the guide memlwjif65. '.lhe grooves formed o n the opposing face of said guidenambers 64 and 65 are' so shaped thatthey i'orm with onev another an oval-shajaul"spout or elmte,'said lower end of 'said plungeris adaptedto he projected through the aperture 35, "and downwardly between the guide members 64 and 65, thereby acting as a drivel rod or 'feed rod for 'the spout or chute. Thus,v it is evident, it, as the nuts. contained inlthe hopper: 4 are agitated `bythe .step by step revolution of. the revoluble disk 34,ce'rtain of the'lowermost. nuts will bee-omeseate'd in .the apertures in 'said disk, and as thenuts are carried around b v. said disk, it will eventually be'broughtover-and pushed through the aperture 35 in the .hopper bottonn 'lhe 60 Vengaging and being slidable opposing grooves formingfthe spoutor chute I occurijin exactly lbelow `said 'aperture 35, the `nut\ m11 reoeivedjthereby, andthe reciproltimed, i e niitso -'projected 'betweenl'theguide members""64 and 65 and gripped.'l between -said grooves,` By reason of the fact that 'the -idefmen'i'bers 64 and 65 l are v'eoxinexzted by e bell crank levers'58 10 and'59, and said bellcrank levers-are spring actuatedl to maintain -said' 'ide members "c losest: s ition,l itis-evident that the mem# 4bers w" l be-eq'ua'llyvmove'd, bythe spreading .15 action .-o'fithe iillt,` andthe. accurate centering vof the opening between-the `guide members 64'and`65below`the opening 35 ofthe hopper bottoni-f'willfnot-be desturbed. It will .-also beseen* tliatbyireason of the expansi- 'sitio'n',`-or substantially as theyar'ede# 'liveredtfromthejchuta a'ndvtol hold them L insaid :horizontal position, dui-in *certainperiods-ifthevcutting, crushing an f fslilllremoving operations land to grinthe liikerfelfter theinterniediate portion ofthe shell's'lia's.been. init-away".` tReferringzftof'Eigs; 3'J and 4, 68 are fo'ur raek'ets rejectinginwardly from the op! z liaving C rearwardly projecting rods l side'softli'ea.-iitxa'chine;A and-mot visiblein Figs.

- ffand "4, saidfcam's'bein'g Tconformed .to 'give -fanintrmittentlreciprocatorymovement to opposi'tcly disposed 'withinf said housing, andV havin gripping-member 69 'and 70 vcomprises v 79E-'carried by themaiii drivef shaft 12, and camfISjiscarried by'a second shaftBO and said camsare Iso disposed upon "said" 75 12j and. 80, that their cam surfaces aredis-` posed in opposite relation, soltliatf'the reci'procation ofheads69 and 70 wi1l be'alwa s in opposite directions, that i s, simultaneous yv shaft 80 ism'oiinted`longitiidinally-inbear-v ings 84 and 85 secured 9r"moiinted onthe base 1 and the upright: l5 f: ofi the machine,

one fr iafmin zio;- Fig; ii; .semaszfama-pairf locks .amd si,- fofaaiiusa swahili@ f side"lplatesf95,"' one o f 1 ,100 screwed or otherwiseV of eachpair of blocks-86- and'f87 their'my portions confomingto andslelabl'eliii tslei 105 recesses 89'anl 90are"` vblocks 102" and 10a. @1i-The' bicksjaej and. 97

.are normally lieldincontact'With'the'bloeks embrace and -`are slidablefonitoiigiies formed extendsbetween roje'ctions98u The ootpfsaid cross# shape'cfmeinbei '104 lopeiatos slid- 1 30 arefmouitedo'iiv l .5 ingalvton www# the member 104 in position between the prof jections 98. From the' above it will be seen that the action. of the cross sha ed member 104, in opposition tothe' spr1ng`105, by reason of the' beveled 'tongue and groove .connection of 104 withthe blocks 102 and 103 and through the normally permanent connection of thesli-dable members 96 and 97 with the blocks 103 and 102, movesl the slidable members 96 and 97 and conse-4 quently the projections 98 toward each other.

When the spring 105 moves 'the cross shaped member 104 the membersV 96 and 97 move away from'each other and the projections 98 4and 99 assumethe relative position shown in. Fig. 16. This action removes the kernel from the grips after the shellin has been com leted as will 'be explained ate-r.

' Fig.` 11 s ows the relative position of the parts 98 and 99 whenA nut orkernel is grasped, the heads having moved inwardly 4by the s rings 80. The upper corner of Ieach hea is upwardly and rearwardlybe'veled or inclined,l whereby a mouth is formed to receivethe nuts from 4the spout or. chute as'the longer 18 drives them downwardly to saidp heads. The gripping mechanism here described is operated and. timed so that the heads'or-jawswillbe in position to be opened or spread as each nut'is successively brought down to the chute by the plunger 18.

In operation, when the nut forced downward through the chute b the feed rod 19 enters tli clrcular cavity getween the heads formed by theV movable members 98, and 104, vthe first pressureV as theheads move to ward. one another is exerted on the nut by sob the opposingv members 104, and as the heads continue to move toward one another, members 104`are pushed inwardl against the tension of springs 105, and a so 1n opposition tothe springs carried by the rods 7 1, which norma ly maintain said heads in their closest relation toy one another.v Thus,l as the members 104 are retracted, the members 96 and 97, arem'oved toward one another, and arebrought to seat/upon the surface of the nut, thus relieving the members 104 of e nut, and. disturbing thevpressure exerted by the heads around ,the entire periphery of the nut, thus center-y ing the nut. Also, by distributing the pressure around the periphery, the kernel is gripped by a greater ressu're thanY would e possible, withoutfinjuringthe kernel by crushing, than if only two members, such as members 1044 were used to hold the kernel afterthe shelling adon. 4YVhen, the heads are-retracted or spreadart after the shell-l heads 69 and 70, a emeinbers 96j and 97 being the first, in the inverseoperatio'n of the heads, to leave the kernel the members 96 and 97 assume the relative position shown lin Fig. 16 as aforesaid. f

A separator. is mounted for intermittent movement into position to separate the shells.

from the'kernel. Mounted for rotation com- I paratively close'to or recessed in4 the base 1 ofthe machine, is a shaft 108, and jour- 'naled'in bearings mounted upon 4said base.

slidably mounted in a slide bearing 112.

Said slide ybearing 112 consists of a casing having oppositely disposed slide grooves formed therein, and having a stud or journal projected from its rear side and mounted in a bearing 1 13 secured to the base l. A wiper or rol-ler 114 s ecuredto the outer side of the pitman 111 and suitably disposed toward the outer endthereof, is engaged by acam groove formed in a cam disk 115 mountedy on thermain shaft 12. Thus as saidcam diskis revolved, the pitman 111 is rocked, and in turn shaft 108 is given an oscillating movement, the guide bearing 112 acting to throw the pitman in the proper reciprocating path. Said separator member or separating mechanism 109, mounted upon the 'end of the shaft over an opening in the base 1 to occur adjacent the gripping heads 69 andv70, consists generally, of a housing substantially triangular in shape, and hav; ing abearing member formed at or near the lower apex thereof. lSaid bearing member 1s securely attached to the shaft 108, so that the housing will be carried above the b ase 1. Said housing `consists or may consist of an integral casting, having opposite walls 1-16 and 117, a central partition 1184 and the ends walls 119. The upper lside 120 of'said housing is provided with a longitudimilY slot 121 which extendssubstantially -the entire length of said top, and is enlarged `side oflthebearing 109, is provided with openings. 1 Said sidewalls 116 and 117 near the upper side 120 are provided with similar walls125, which terminate at one end of said side in comparatively large circular'.`-

openings 126. In practice, the do11bl e or practical bifurcated formation of thehous ing permits it to be mounted ,upon the. shaft 10 to be rocked toward1or frointhegripes@ shea. assieme.

tostraddle the the nuts to cut,rcrush, and/shell the latter thaieaqhone ofie musne andfnmies oni-,ara Side. ofthe grippin th e im4 e Upper 70, andgthe slot 121 form side 120 of said housing, permits said hous-" ing to'move backwardly. and forwardly on each side of said gripping heads, as it is rocked or reciprocated b the shaft 108.

The housing 'is' so mounte upon said shaft 108, that, as a nut is carried downwardly toward the grippingmembers by the plunger 18', th`e aperture 126 will be registered with the lower end of the plunger, `or with the nut, to permit its passage, into said housing throughthe aperture 122 and into the grip 4members the separator is held ina posito: be. engaged by the gripping members. During'the'downward movement of the nut tion withv the large circular opening 126 concentricwith the crushing members. The mechanism which 1s employed to operate'on is permitted to operate through said openings' 126. Asthe housing which forms. the i" casing ofv they separator 109'is adapted to receive and conduct away the shells as they are taken from the nuts or kernels, it is necessary that al completely inclosed passageway beprovided to deliver said shells away from'the shelling mechanism. Tothis cud, thebales 127 carried by stemswhiclll are i securedto the brackets 91, are adapted to abut the u per end of the' central 'partition 118,'W en the separator 109 isswung into 'the osition 'wherethe openings 126 register wlth the o ening between the gripping heads, thus orming a practical con- Y tinuation of said central partition 118, and eliminating any possibility of shells which are separated from the kernel from falling l shells throug behind said partition 11'8, but, on the other hand, insuring the positive delivery 'of said the opening at 124 in the' lower end of the separator 109.'

Mounted longitudinally of the machine, and extending from points adjacent opposite sides of the separator109 toward op-- posite ends of the machine, are horizontally I .slidable or movable tubes 128, said tubes be# ing mounted in bearings 129, and having revolubly mounted on their inner ends, the

' cutting heads 130. Said cutting heads each comprise the cci-acting elements as follows: A s eeve 131 is revolubly mounted on the I end of tube 128, between the fixed collar 132 and 'theremovable and adjustable collar 133, and is4 provided with the intermediate flange 134 andthe angled fiange 135. .Asubstan-- tially broad gear 136 having Aits hub andweb disposed at one end thereof, is secured as byl bolts or screws to the intermediate ange 134. A second similarly constructed gear 137, havin a larger' periphery, is secured for. revolu lemovement to said an led 135 by means of a. collar '138l w ich lflan holsesaid geen the portion 4139,

tudinally from said-,tlange 135,1atequa1-disf tances around 'theinner opening` f said: l if fiange, are four projections 140, whichv are in;

turn formed or turned Vat right angles'to the longitudinally radial'projections1411'v Said I i radial projections 141 are machined to form rectangular housings and` constitute hous.A

inws'in which cutting' members 142 are jour.-

nalled for radial sliding movement,said cut-v ting members 142 having squaredlshanks or stocks -which slidey in bearings formed inthe longitudinal portion of; theY .projectionsf140- and in the upper-l portions j of;` saidfradial projections 141; Cross pieces 145 secured,

- as by'scre'ws, to thehousingslftL- serve to.'

secure. the Shanks in-4 lace. Saidcuttin'g members are normally most position, with 'their edgesnearest. the

center or axis of' the revolvingjhead 1,30.

This -is accomplishedr by- ,means of coil" springs 143 which inclose the Shanks of said cutting members 142andy bear between the upper portions of the radiale projections' 141; and pins 144 projected throughy said Shanks.`

en a 'their inner-- As said` head 130 isv revolved, the cuttingmembers are given f a. timed intermittent;

radial. movement.` lIn order". to. accomplish 1 1 this, a cam disk 146, which is provided with four, equally spaced actions or ..e'pressions, is secured, as by screws orbolts to thev gear the outer or projecting ends of the Shanks or stocks of said cutting members 142. Said` cutting or ,knife members V142, are projected Y outwardly, parallel tothe axis of the head 1.30, at the lower end of the Shanksor stocks,

and at. the outer extremity of said horizon-k tal or axial portions, are curved inwardly toward lthe center oraxis of said head, and are sharpened and, beveled from one side to an angle approximately 45 degrees in order to form the knife or cuttin ed es of the knife members( When said ea s 130 are mounted upon said tubes 128,:'the latter being jounaled in said bearings 129 secured to the base 1, the gears 136 meshwith gears 149, and 'gears l137 mesh with gears 150, said gea-rs 149 and 150 being mounted upon' a shaft 151 mounted upon the base 1 in suitable journals, and having gear connections through spur. 152 and gear A153 with the main shaft 12.

lTn practice, the gear 152 is constructed four times as large as the gear 4153 onthe' shaft 151, so that said shaft 151 will'revolve i25- Vfour Vtimes to the singlerevolution of the main shaft 12. Also, the gears 136, fixedly secured tothe revolving heads 130 are oonstructed' of thc same lslze as the gears 149 i which drive the former from the shaft 151,'

and the loose4 gears 137 carriedbyfthe heads cutting action.

'130 are provided-.in suchi'relation' to the corresponding' drivinggears 15,0 carried by the`shaft 151, that as the/gear 136 and con'- sequently the heads 130 are revolved throughsixteen revolutions,- the gear 187 hasmade fifteen revolutions. By'reason of the movement of the. ears as above described, the knives, throng i the cam disks 146 are given an intermittent inward movement, and

while in theirinnermost'position are-.given time to revolve once toexert their cutting action aroundth'e'entire'- peri hery of a nut. 'lhe tubes which carrysaid) heads 130 ashereinafter more fully described, are mounted toV retract, and present said 'heads at timed intermittent intervals 'suitable for vper-` mitting t-hetlrnife members to perform the Slidably ittedwithin te tube members 128 are the secondary tubes 154, and slidf. ably fitted within the said. tubes 154 are rods 155. .Said rods carry ontheir pro-fr jected ends the bifurcated or forked members 156 between the, ends"A of whichare.

journaledrollers 157. lThe tubes154 are slotted, to 'permit of the transverse.movement of a memberf158,"hereinafter more;v fully described, lthrough the said tube 154, said slotubeing of sullicient length tofpermit ofthe movement-of the, tubes 154ov`er said member* 158,/and on Ltheinner end ofthe ,rods 155 1s formed a tongue the ends.

of whielroperatefon the bottom of the slot 184 and is lbifurcated to straddle the-same member 158. Threaded yinto theiopposite or inner ends of the tubes 128 `are bushings or lmarings 159, said bearings beino axlally -bored to receive therein .for slida le axial axial bore as. the main portion of the bush-A movement, a plunger rod 160. The outerl end of sald vbushing 159 is extended in the form of a reduced collar,'ha vi nfr the same "21,' and terminating lat its outer end ina.

series of teeth, said teeth being formed as.

shown in Figs. 15 and 21, with one' substanti ally axially extended faee, and one irregular or curved face. Said extended bushing, with the teeth formed thereon form what are termed crushers. Said lunger rod 160 extends throughsaid bushing and its extended portion, and has secured thereto .by

means of a slot and pin connection through `the lextemled portlon ofsaid bushing,-an`

outer sleeve, which moves long itmlinallv or axially with said plunger, and slides on the outside of sad extemled, portion. The latter end of said-.plunger rod hasseeured thereto by'niean's of a bored portion'orscrew adapted toreciprocate in a casing or .cylin- 'ler 163 'formed by a` collarnndfplug .se-"1 .ured in the tube 1 54. Mounted on' said od 161;. and bearing between the collar in threads,a rod 161 whose -rear end 'isf provided witha piston 162, the funetionfof 'which' will 'he ..lat".r explained, which is ing tubes 196.

165 on sa idrod7161,`is a coil/spring 164-" which normally tends't'y press` the plunger rodf160 outwardly from said tube 154. A

'carni 166 mounted uponf'the shaft 81, and a vcorresponding, cam 167 mounted'v upon ashaft 168 journaled in suitable bearings at the opposite endof the ba'sel and driven by vbeveled gears-169 and -17 0, fro1n the main Vshaft 12 act against the rollers4 157 secured 7,5"

to said rods 155 to simultaneously move the fthe end (if the ltube-154and a' fixed agave crushing members, above described,.t`oward each other. Secured to .the rear ends of the tubes 154, -and'having' a rigid connection with thea-eci locating-'shafts' 171, are the crossopieccs 1 2. Said reciprocating 'shafts' 171 are journaled' in bearings 173 formed in the sides. of the'shaft journals of the aoV Y In order to provlde for the .operationwf I the. crushing,-:and shelling mechanism on nuts 'of varying sizes, it is necessary to providev an automatically adjustable operating mechanism.4 Mounted parallel to the tubes 12S, and journaled for longitudinal sliding movement in the bearings 126 arel slldeshafts 176, which have rigid ott-set connections 177 with the ends of longitudinal shaftfmembers 178 whose opposite ends are slidably mounted in slide-bearings 179 provided therefor on the. journals of shafts 16S and 81. Laterally projecting stubs 180 formed on shaft members 178 are provided with wipers or cam rollers which project in and are operated. bythe intern'al one face cams 181, whose faces are so formed and positioned as to b'sarfthe .same relation to the cams166 and 167 as the outer face ot a groove cam, mounted on shafts 168 and 81, whereby the longitudinal toi-ward movement giventothe crus-hers hy. the rams 166 and 167 is returned on the return movement through the intermediaey of the memlrer 158. :lhe 'slide shafts 176', connect ions 117 -and longitudinal VAsha-tt vmembers 178 eon- .stitute the return members.

The tubes'128 and the slide shafts 176 are yslotted at Ipoints--intermediate their` ends,

and at adjacent-lm'mts, said slots ertending horizontally` .and registering with another. versely'of said tubes 128 and shafts176 is a one Projected through said slots,trans iso and 149.' A further acti-on of the earnsY 166 andlt'? .exerts a limited crushing action on the mit, thereby breaking the shell intermediate thel ends of the mit. Said Crushers also act through the teeth carried by thejends. of

Ysaid Crushers with a cutting, action, thereby separating the intermediate )ortionof the shell from the end portions o the` Shelh Said end portions resting and being held `by the teeth within the open ends of sind crushing- '.llns -step having been accom# tion 118. A'fterjth'e knives 4have :performedtlns function,` the gripping heads are broughtl inwardly hv the action ofthe springs Trl"l and grip that ,portion ot' the kernel from wliichthe vshell'lhasbeen removed -siinilar to' the manner-in I.which it -previonsl igripped the nut, -aiid as before Vsta't'et`l,the ;peculiar Ithat'would:otherwise injure it. "lfhetcutting and-crushingl ineinbers'are thencaused .to recede, the;end.,portionsfoftheshells-reniain-f action =of the grip .members -dist'ril'mtingrr the .pressure around the periphery of-the"kei-'nel` permits of its beiiigfgripptal -wvitlna firmness `ing or lbeingrgheld hy :the -teetli .within the.

Vcrusher heads, and freeedingtherewith, 'and i the kernels remaining;- held -inzthewgrips and Athe dottedflines Fig.- :12,'the grips opengbrit'- .the'separator Iis lin the -position :above nientioned-before zthe `:kernel has '-had, time to entirely -free lfroin eshell; ."While4 the separa vtor :109, whichwiip to this-:point Sluis` not,"

moved, -is I'being-rocked so that the partition 118 vis broughtinto the-position indicated by fdrop. This lwill =beunderstood\sinee -theactions-.occur1veryfrapidly. -hekerne'l 'falling behindsa'id lpartition 118 alls-out "through separat-e =receptaele :provid d ttherefor. VIn

the event .of Aa 'kernel ihavtnig-been carried awav-by' sticking .tol one of: the end portions of the -shell',-when saidend portion aisV carried way byf. the receding c rusliingnieniher; and the separator continuii'ig-its inoven'i'ent in'the direction above .inenti'oned said kernel` will v nevertheless-be lengaged Iby the portion iff- Tt is evidentpofcourse. that nuts ol' va ryin" sizes must he operated on by the machine. and the automatic .adjusting ineans must operate positively and rapidl v.tosuc-' eessively shell nuts of maximum'ant'l niini` acked niuni size. Thus, the cani bloekvlS in being drawn toward the slide plate 1ST -by means of the spring 193,'acts as a connection between tlieftu'be 1'28 and the crushing rod 155 Vby means of which the. relative. distances.I -w'liifchsaid tubes and'tlieir contained' ele- -nieiit's travel, may be varied. That when a ntitof maximum size'is held in the center- Ying'ftubes 196 andthe crushing members projet-teil, movement of` the cam block 15S is` snllicien't to stretch the spring 11923 and limiti-J tain the cam bIoekiS andtubes 129. in a.

Yfixed relation. `IIoweveiz if a nut of minimum si'ze isheld'in 'the centering' tubi-sand' -tlie crushinginenihers. advanced lh v the tulies 12R'notfreaching"said nut otfminiinnni size thevtensionexerted on the springltti-lilv the action of 'the Vcain lill in drawingr the slide plate ontivardlv toward the main shaft' 12 inoi'esthe cani block y15S 'laterally inthe sa me direction. j

The ert|s-zliing`lr rodsl 155 being in contact' cani .face 194 against 'the end ot' said rod legnioves .-tlie hotte-ingr l and stubes.' 12S .until `thererushers come in contact -\vitl\ tlie nl tt `rot tn'iiniinuni s-ze. lat'ter which -t'urtlier the cracking. ADuring; .the interval that `the `camsltllfdraw ,tlie" cani blocks 15S in -the -.'ilii'e `:tioii of the-main slia-l't or stretches the spring: -ltl Vthere occurs` au action on Vthe `canis 'ltt and '167. lt' the nutjwas ot' maxiinuin -si'/.e.ftlie erushers hein;r on 'the nut at -ithedxf-ginning:ot-'said interval said nut ol :tnaxinninrsize receives an -atnotint ol' t-i'aclt. representedby 4tlieaction ot' the rants lt'tty. fand lt'lldlui--ing.thisinterval.-inore than the nut-foflniiniuiiun-size'reeeives ,'l`la` nut ol any size-,greater than inniinnm receives. in addition to the ai'uount-of.crack the nut ot minimum .size ret-'ei-vrs. an amount represented 'b'vfthe action of the cams ltt and ,I ('l'- dnrinj r said :interval `from the time the cainibloekstla'inn` the crushers in contactA with tthenut until theft-nd o'f said interval. Hence-each nuteis cracked aigri-atei'-orless yamount:aecordingrdo its size. Tn practice vthe-amounthof-crack varies at a di-ll'eient ratioin.proportiontto-its size.

.'hen fthecains lill v4(which are internal .one- Aface cams). acting on :the --rollers litt) -drawthe-'cam'blocks'15S in=tlie direction ot the=|nain"shaft lllthrongrh the-internaaliaeir ofvthe'springs4193. said eain' blocks actin;r on

the -'horizontal ro'llers .oftlie-'slde plates 186 anditlie vvertical roller actin Ir on the cams e188 -thelnoveinent of thecain blocks 158 aretinied. .'Ihe-retnrn movement of the above*mentioned cam blocks 15S-is accont- .|:lishe`d "hy-'the' cams "ISS through -the :plates 186andfhoiizontal and-vertical rollers. The Yhonxontal .rollers on the slide plates lRt' permit of the freelongitudinal movement` loftlit-.ealu l'ilojks-lSwvith the-tubes 129.

'l 1 'Immediately following the interval -above mentioned there is areturn action on the cams 191which relieves any tension of the spring 193 and prevents any tendency-toa '.5 further forward movement Tof the bloc-1:1158 in direction ofmain shaft after-.this interval.

After the l'ast named .interval the final action of the Acams 166-and 167 cpmpletethe cracking. The' amount of crack receivedin this '10A interval is the en tire amount of c rack the' mit of minimum size receives. 1 The knives ofl the revolving heads being now brought to their'inner position turn away the cracked -or that portion of the shell between theV v crushers. Thefgrips as above explained must grip 'the kernel. -If .the crushers are i too close together' to allow fora propeiclearancebetween the vrevolving knives 142 and the grips when the grips are brought --'t`ogether during this interval the blocks 158 receive' an, amount of return movement through the camsltS 'scparating'the Crushers a small amount for proper clearance.-v An action of the cams 181 is-now communibers, above'v mentioned, through the cam blocks 158 returning the tubes 128 the amount given: by the forward'act-ion ofthe cams 166;

"and 167, and the cams 188 completing'whatever movement theremay4 be. necessaryl to bring the cam blocks 158 to their returned position return the Vtubes 128 the amount occasioned bythe foi-ward movement of-tlic cam. blocks 158. The Crushers 159 and the knives 142 that hadbceny projected throughthe opening 126 in the separator being now withdrawn the separator swings into the position above mentioned where partition 118 is infthe position indicated by the dotted' 40' lines Fig; 12'; the grips meanwhile having opened `t kernel drops as above explained, the separatore ntinuin its movement releases the kerne from t e end of vtheshell should it'not4 have been held by the grips '45 as a-bove explained.v The separator now ieturns'to the position it was inat the beginning, that is with'the openings 126 concentric with Crushers, 'after'which an action of 'the groove cams 175 forces the pluner rods .l'somewhat beyond the Crushers o rcin out the ends o f the shell stuck there- 'iii an heends'of the shell falling .in 'the .separatoii-in-front of the partition 118, fall `fout. inthesaine manner 'as the middle portion of lthe shell. The action of the'cams 175 is sniiicientf to bring the 'plunger 160 smewl iat tiushv of the crushers after" the springs have compressed, thepiston-head 162 oomin'g'in'cont'act with; the plug inthe tube 154, the ends of the shell are struck a. solid blow.. The reciprocation ofthe centeringand 'plunger members are such that they perform 'their function of .centering the nut previous -to..c'rushing`or.cracking and presses out the -endslof the shellwithout in- .terfering wid-1,142' or any'of the other actions. ,The gripshaving returned tothe mner 'portion the ensuin actions of the ma- 4chine are then continue 'in'proper order.

As a. result of vthe abovey actions, the entire shell is removed-from the .pecan'nuts wit-hout "disturbingthe integrity of th'e kernel, andas will .be `evident, the complete kernels arel obtained regardless of the size4 of the nuts.

The automatic adjustability of the engaging and .cutting and crushing members being adapted tol cause 'said "members to. operate on nuts of varying sizeswithoutthe loss of time and without injury to the kernels.

It is well understood, of course, that the above'A described mechanism embodies one of the many forms which my machine may take without vdeparting from the spirit of A lthe invention or from 'the scope of theap- Vpended claims. .v

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim and .desire to'secure by. Letters Patent of the United 'States is f 1 A machine for shelling pecan nuts, comprising, in .'combination, means for crushing the shells', means for cutting the crushed shells from .thel kernel, and means for actuating said crushing and cuttingv means in succession.'Y y

' 2. A machine for obtaining entire mit kernels,rcomprising, in combination, means *for crushing the sides of the shells, means` for cutting away said crushed sides of 'the shells, means for removing the ends of the shells, and means for actuating said-crushmg, cutting and removing means -1nl succes'- sion.

3. A machine for shelling nuts, comprising, in combinatiom-'means for cracking the intermediate portions of the shell Vand cut# j ting the ends of' the shell therefrom, and for' drawing said ends away from the-nut, means or removing said intermediate `portions of said shell, and means for successively 'actuating said cracking, cutting and iei'noviiig l means. 4. A machine for shelling nuts, comprising, in combination, means for' cracking t-lie intermediate portions ofthe shell and cuttingfand removing the"ends of`the "shell I therefrom, means for reinovin said intermediate .portions of said Shel, means for feeding nuts to' the cracking,"cutting and removing means, and means to actuate these mechanisms.

5.V A machine for shelling nuts, comprismg, in combination, means for holdin the.

nut, opposing means for' crushing sai nut ments. l

6. A machine for shelling nuts, comprising, in combination, means f orfintermedi- I nut, opposing means for engaging the ends ately holding. the nut-, opposing 'coperative means for crushing the shell, and holding the ends of said nut, means for removing the cracked` shell, means carried by saidA end holding means for removing the ends o f said shell ymeans to'feed nuts tov said means-for:

holding tlienut intermediately,' and mechanismto successively actuate the foregoing elements. t f Y' 7. ,i machine for shelling-nuts, comprising, in'combinat-ion, means for holding the of said nut, means'operatii'ely connected to actuate said opposing means, for crushingsaidf' nut, means operative between said crushing means for removing 'the cracked portionv of tlief shell, sai'd crushing means being.v constructed for removing the ends of said shell by retraction of said crushing means.

8, A machine for shelling nuts, comprising, in combination,meansfor holdingthe nut, opposingmeans-.on eachsde ofsaid holding 'means `forLcrushing the middle portion. ofj vthe shell, meansrevoluble `around 'said crushing'rme'ansfor'cutting away and i removing thefer'ilclc'ed portionof the shell,

'l equally; is'tributedpressure, opposing means,

-forcuttin andcrushin the intermediate portion' o the-shell, anc meansrevoliible .vancedfor lcracking the intermediate porremoving-the ends '-ofsaid'shell, i 9., A vmacliiiieafoi|` -sh'ellingnuts, comprissaid'crushingl ineans-,being-also adapted for.

-ing, in combination-,1 ripping,-means\for sur- 'roundin `thenutfan holding the. latter 'with ar'oimd said gop'posing means forfcutting awaygand reinovingthe cracked 'portionof the-shell, said 'cutting and crushing means being adapted@forfinclosing and removing the endsof-'said shell.. 4

10.-V A machine for shelling nuts, .com prising, in combinati-on, axially movable means t for; tracking intermediate: rtions of the shell, and cuttingth'e ends'o the shell thereintermediate pprtions-ofsaidshell, said axia-lly niovabl'e'a meansalso removing4 the. .ends ofsaidshell." i

q'11,. A` machine for sh' lling nuts,` comprising,- in combination, means adapted tov be. ad-

tions'of the shells and cuttin the intermediate portions of the shells romI the'l ends thereof, wheny said intermedia`te portionhas been cracked, and means carried by-'said c'raclnngmeans fon-reinovnhig the ends of the shclls-when said crackingI means is retracted-.f

f 12. A machine for shelling' nuts, comprising, in combination, means forholdi'ng the nut at its largest periphery, opposing axially movable means for engaging theends of, said nut, and :means mounted .upon said engaging means foreutting and crushing tl'ieshell Y of said nut, and' for removing thcends-of said simil. A

13."A machine for shelling nuts, comprismg, in combination, means for holding the. nut at lts largest periphery, opposing axially movable means for engaging the ends of said nut, means -"1'iioiinted upon said 'engaging 74 means forleiitting and crushing the shell of -said nut, andorV 'remoi-'ing the ends of said shell, and means `revolving around said crushing and removing means for' cutting awaly the intermediate portions of the shell. 7l

.14.= A niachii'ie'foi shelling nuts, comprising, in combination, 'means for holding tht-. nutv :dits-largest periphery, means for engaging theends of .the nut, means mounted upon said engaging means for crushing the v81 intermediate portions and for removing the ends of said shell, and means revolving around said crushing and removing means for cutting away the 'intermediate portions of said shell. 8;

15. A `machinefor shelling nut-s,4 coinpiising, in comlnnation, a`li'opper, a gripping means,- mean's for feeding nuts from said lhopper to said gripping means, and

'means for crushing said shells. and for rc- 9| moving' the ends of said shclls'from the nuts.

16. A machine for shelling nuts-,comprising, in combination, a hopper-,1a gripping means, means-for feeding nuts from lsaid hopper to saidgiipping means` opposing 9i means for engaging the'en'ds of `said nut,

means for Ycutting and crushing the shell.' -of said nut andV removing the ends of said fsliell, and means for removing the intermediate portions of said shell. .1

portion thereof.

18..-A machine for shelling nuts, comprising, in combination,fa hoppema pair of gripping heads, nieansforfeeding nuts' from said hopper to vsaid-gripping heads? means 'upon opposite sides of said-gri ping .-1 h cads for engagiiig;tlie=endsof-.sai nut, means mountedl concentricall' Y.of-*said en-V gaging means for cutting untlcusli'ing theshell of said-nut, and 'retractable- -alon th'e axis-of the nut forj removing-the en s of ,1

prisng,- in combination, almpper-,a pair of. gpping. heads, means frf feeding .-nut'sfrom said hopper 4to said grippi'ngli'eads, 1 means upon' opposiwsidesof.said.gripping heads for engaging, the 'endsof 4said nut, means n'iountedgconcentric/ally of said engaging means .for `cutting and crushing thel shell of said nut', and for .removing the ends 1 ing-means for engaging.andcentering said 1 

